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| Many OFWs are worried about where they should have the Covid-19 test before flying to HK |
Two days after announcing that because of a recent surge in
imported cases, all foreign domestic workers must test negative in their home
countries before being allowed to fly in, Hong Kong
has yet to set a date on when this new policy will be implemented.
The announcement has caused concern among those set to fly
to Hong Kong soon, as they fear they would be turned away from boarding their
flights in Manila
Consul General Raly Tejada says he has already reached out
to the Hong Kong government to ask for details
on the new policy, but has yet to receive a reply.
“Preliminarily, it seems that it’s more of a health measure
rather than a labor issue but for us it’s much than that as it may result in
added expenses and delays in deployment of our workers,” he said.
He added it is important to know how the new restriction
will be carried out, as “more often than not the devil is in the details.”
Among the questions being asked by Hong Kong-bound Filipino
workers is where they could have themselves tested, and when they should do it.
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| Pindutin para sa detalye |
While a group of Hong Kong-based employment agencies has
claimed to having their recruits get tested before departing Manila, most
workers say they do not know of anyone who could administer the test.
They also ask how recent the result should be, as it takes
time for laboratories in the Philippines Hong Kong ’s
standards.
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| ConGen Tejada says they have yet to hear from the HK govt on the details of the new health policy |
Congen Tejada says the Consulate has also received queries
from anxious workers, and they have been advised to just watch out for their
advisories on this.
Secretary for Food and Health Dr. Sophia Chan announced the
new policy on Jul 7, shortly after government officials met to review Hong Kong ’s anti-virus measures.
Earlier that day, health officials disclosed 14 new
infections, nine of them local. Of the imported cases, three involved Filipinas
who recently arrived from Manila
Dr Chan said that apart from requiring FDHs to test negative
before flying into Hong Kong , they must
also spend their mandatory 14-day quarantine in a "designated place" like a hotel, after entry.
All the expenses for the Covid-19 test and the quarantine
accommodation will have to be shouldered by the employer.
She gave no other details.
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| Food and Health Secretary Sophia Chan |
The following is a transcript of a media
interview on Jul 7 with Secretary for Food and Health Dr. Sophia Chan on why
Hong Kong has decided to require all incoming foreign domestic helpers to test
negative at their home countries before flying in, and spend their quarantine
in hotels:
Reporter: First of all, domestic helpers coming into Hong Kong will be asked to be quarantined at hotels for
14 days. How many hotels have agreed to this as it is summer time, many hotels
are offering discount? How has the sector responded to the new decision?
Second, air staff and crew ship staff are required to additional testing when
they land in Hong Kong . Can you explain a bit
more and also why is the burden now being passed onto the countries where they
are coming from? The third question, will these new cases, especially with the
cases in shipping ports, delay the establishment of the travel bubble and when
will we see health code come to light again?
Secretary for Food and Health: The situation is that, first of all, in the recent two weeks, we have cases coming from places, for example,Philippines and Indonesia Hong
Kong are very small. Therefore, in order to let domestic helpers
coming to Hong Kong to have effective quarantine, it is important for them to
have a place whereby fulfilling the Department of Health's guidelines and
requirements. They should have a single room and do not share toilets with
others, etc. Therefore, we have discussed that it is important for them to come
together to a designated place for quarantine. Hotel will be one of the places
that is suitable for this purpose. Secondly, it is also important for the
employers to require them to have pre-boarding testing or pre-arrival testing
so that we know that they are at least tested negative at the time before they
arrive in Hong Kong . Of course, we will
continue to test them after they arrive in Hong Kong .
That is something that we shall do.
Secretary for Food and Health: The situation is that, first of all, in the recent two weeks, we have cases coming from places, for example,
